Shewing eight notable differences between a true and a counter- feit assurance, &c., ..... 512—519
Also in this chapter is set forth in nine special things, the difference between the whisperings of the Holy Spirit and the hissings of the old serpent, &c., . . . 519-523
Containing answers to several special questions about assurance :
As first, How those should strengthen and maintain their assurance that have obtained it, &c. This question is answered nine ways, ..... 523-527
The second question is, how such sad souls may be supported from fainting and languishing, that have lost that sweet and blessed assurance that once they had. Six answers are given to the question, ..... 527-529
The third question is, how such souls may recover assurance, who once had it but have now lost it. Five answers given to this question, . . . . . 530-532
Some uses of the point, ..... 532-533
AN ARK FOU ALL GOD'S NOAHS.
The ' Ark for All God's Noahs' was originally puhlished in 1662, and the next edition — from which our text is taken — appeared in 1666, but is not designed ' second ' or other- ■wise. In this, as in other cases, the Publisher seems to have kept the types standing, and to have issued rapidly large impressions without ever changing the date. The title- page is given below.* A quaint and beautiful little edition of this book bears the imprint ' Glasgow College, Printed by Alex. Millar, and are to be sold in his shop opposite to the Well, in the Salt Mercat, 1738." 12mo. G.
GODS NOAHS In a gloomy stormy day ;
The best Wine reserved till last.
The transcendent Excellency of a
believers portion above all earthly
Portions whatsoever :
Discovered in several SERMONS,
which may be of singular use at all
times, but especially in these Breaking times,
wherein many have, and many daily do
break for more than their all, and
wherein many thousands are
turned out of all, &c.
. By THOMAS BROOKS, late Preacher of the Gospel at Margarets New Fishstreet, and still Preacher of the Word in London, and Pastor of a Congregation there.
1 looked on my right hand, and beheld, hut there was no man that would know me, refuge failed me, no man cared for my soul, I cryed unto thee, 0 Lord, / said
• thou art my refuge, and my portion in the land of the living, Psal. 142. 4, 5.
London, Printed by M. S. for Henry Cripps, at the
first entrance into Poj»e«-head Alley, next
to Lombard street, 1666.
To all the merchants and tradesmen of England, especially these of the city of London, with all other sorts and ranks of persons that either have or would have God for their portion, grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied.
Gentlemen, — The wisest prince that ever sat upon a throne hath told us, that *a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver,' or as the Hebrew hath it, ' a word spoken, ViDN'py^ upon his wheels,' that is, rightly ordered, placed, and circumstantiated. Such a word is, of all words, the most excellent, the most prevalent, and the most pleasant word that can be spoken ; such a word is, indeed, a word that is like * apples of gold in pictures of silver.' Of all words such a word is most precious, most sweet, most desirable, and most delectable. O sirs ! to time a word, to set a word upon the wheels, to speak a word to purpose, is the project of this book. Though all truths are glorious, yet there is a double glory upon seasonable truths ; and, there- fore, I have made it my great business in this treatise to hold forth as seasonable a truth, and as weighty a truth, and as comfortable and encouraging a truth, as any I know in all the book of God. The mother of King Cyrus* willed, that the words of those that spoke unto her son should be in silk, but certainly seasonable words are always better than silken words.
Every prudent husbandman observes his fittest season to sow his seeds, and therefore some he sows in the autumn and fall of the leaf, and some in the spring and renewing of the year ; some he sows in a dry season, and some he sows in a wet ; some he sows in a moist clay, and some he sows in a sandy dry ground, as the Holy Ghost speaks, ' He soweth the fitches and the cumin, and casteth in wheat by mea- sure,' Isa. xxviii. 25. And so all spiritual husbandmen must wisely observe their fittest seasons for the sowing of that immortal seed that Good hath put into their hands ; and such a thing as this is I have had in my eye, but whether I have hit the mark or missed it, let the Chris- tian reader judge.
One speaking of the glory of heaven saith, * That the good things of
eternal life are so many that they exceed number, so great that they
exceed measure, and so precious that they are above all estimation,' &c.*
The same may I say concerning the saint's portion, for certainly the
« * Mandane, daughter of Astyages — G. ' Augustine. — G.
4 AN ARK FOR ALL GOD S NOAHS.
good things that are in their portion, in their God, are so many that they exceed number, so great that they exceed measure, and so precious that they are above all estimation.